Monday, May 14, 2012

this needs to be posted. mostly for my own benefit to look back at, but maybe some will also enjoy it.------- tanz.

i have been back for a month.

it seems longer.

the last of the orange dirt was washed off my toms. my clothes no longer smell of traveling. and my hair has been washed enough to have forgotten about the frizzy/curly/crazy period it went through.

[[but i do miss it.]]

---> i miss the country of tanzania. i miss my sister. i miss maggie. i miss the simplicity of their lives. i miss the red dirt roads. i miss the gardens. i miss the shades of green. i miss the smiling nuns that greeted me every morning. i miss the orphans and their bare feet that ran all over the villiage. i miss the cold showers. i miss the mosquito nets. i miss the warm heat. i i miss the morning bell. i miss it all.

what an experience.

i am lucky.

no words can sum up my trip. no photos do that country justice.

was it a dream?

no.

did i really get to see my sister's life?

yes.

---> non stop.

the trip was filled with many adventures. it started off with a 14 hour bus ride. this bus took us west from the coast to ashley's village of chipole.

chipole, tanzania, her home.

home is exactly what it was. her house. her church. "her family" away from our family. her job. her room. her clothes. i was able to see and live her life. day in and day out.

highlights :::

---> christmas.

spending christmas away from home was a first for all of us. but we managed quite well. we all talked to our families at home. and sure enough, i had an entire suitcase full of treats and christmas items. we did christmas right. santa visited. we baked treats galore. and we enjoyed celebrating mass tanzanian style.

---> orphans.

we visited the orphanage a couple times. nothing but smiles greeted us every time. the impact the little kids made on my life is hard to explain. every visit was filled with music, dance, giggles, hugs, treats, and happiness. what joy they can bring to one's soul.

---> beauty.
the landscape and beauty of chipole was vibrant. full of life and color. it screamed africa.

---> safari time. it was straight out of the lion king. i couldn't have imagined a better day. we jumped in the vehicle and out we went. we saw many animals. ate lunch in a boa-boa tree. then went to scope out more animals. once in a life time. i think we saw 50 giraffes. 200 zebras. 1,000 impalas. 5 lions. 15 elephants. and hippos. baboons. and more. it was unreal. at points we were feet away.

it was an amazing experience to say the least. once in a lifetime adveture with my sis. life was simple. time stood still. no cell phones. no internet. no cars to travel in.